Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C71/00—After-treatment of articles without altering their shape; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C71/0009—After-treatment of articles without altering their shape; Apparatus therefor using liquids, e.g. solvents, swelling agents
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
  • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
  • B08B3/022—Cleaning travelling work

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for continuously cleaning and / or decontaminating a strip of a thin film of thermoplastic material. It relates, more particularly, although not exclusively, to a device for cleaning the two opposite faces of a continuous strip of a film of thermoplastic material, for example a strip made up of at least one layer of a polyolefinic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, in particular for the use of this cleaned strip for the manufacture of flexible sachets containing an infusion liquid to be administered intravenously to a patient.
• a device for cleaning the two opposite faces of a continuous strip of a film of thermoplastic material for example a strip made up of at least one layer of a polyolefinic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, in particular for the use of this cleaned strip for the manufacture of flexible sachets containing an infusion liquid to be administered intravenously to a patient.
• thermoplastic material for example polyethylene
• these films are generally contaminated by particles of an extrinsic nature or by particles or fragments originating from the films themselves.
• these films When these films are intended for the manufacture of sachets or flexible bags containing perfusion liquids, it is important that they be rid of the contaminating particles which adhere to them and which risk creating accidents if they are entrained with the perfusion liquid. in the circulatory system of patients. It is also important that the side of the film, with which the infusion liquid is in contact, is sterile, so as to avoid the entrainment of germs or possibly pathogenic microorganisms with the infusion liquid in the circulatory system of the patients.
• a continuous cleaning and sterilization system is known for a strip of a film of thermoplastic material, in which this strip is passed through a static bath of a liquid which can, for example, be a sterilizing liquid, such as than oxygenated water.
• a liquid which can, for example, be a sterilizing liquid, such as than oxygenated water.
• This known system often does not allow the particles which can adhere to the film to be adequately detached and it also has the drawback of requiring a periodic replacement of the bath which is gradually loaded with particles and microorganisms and must therefore be renewed.
• the present invention therefore relates to a device for cleaning and / or decontaminating a continuous strip of a film of thermoplastic material, this device comprising an enclosure in which a sterile air pressure is maintained and in which the continuous strip is caused to move along a sinuous path around return rollers between an inlet and a exit from the enclosure, at least one substantially horizontal ramp provided with sprinklers being mounted in the above-mentioned enclosure, so as to allow spraying on at least one face of the strip of jets of a cleaning and / or decontamination liquid , this liquid charged with contaminating particles detached from the strip dripping into the bottom of the enclosure.
• the ramp is arranged so as to allow the spraying of said liquid on a first face of an inclined section, which follows an ascending path and which extends between a deflection roller lower and an upper return roller of the strip, this first face being opposite the second face in contact with the lower return roller and being inclined relative to the vertical in the direction of rotation of the lower roller.
• the cleaning and / or decontamination liquid trickles onto said first face of the inclined section and carries the contaminating particles to the lower deflection roller.
• the cleaning and / or decontamination liquid loaded with particles separates by gravity from the strip and falls into the bottom of the enclosure, without these particles being able to deposit again on the strip.
• the nozzles of the ramp or ramps are oriented in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the strip.
• the sprinklers preferably make an angle of 30 to 90 °, preferably 40 to 60 ° with the strip on which they spray liquid.
• at least one pair of ramps provided with sprinklers, mounted on either side of the strip, substantially at the same level.
• the device can however advantageously comprise several ramps or several pairs of opposite ramps, arranged so that their nozzles spray, a cleaning and / or decontamination liquid on successive sections offset relative to each other of the movable strip. moving within the aforementioned enclosure.
• the ramps or pairs of ramps which extend transversely to the film strip are mounted at two different levels and are optionally supplied with different liquids, these liquids being either demineralized water or water distilled.
• the device according to the invention may have an entry for the film strip in the vicinity of the lower end of the enclosure, a first deflection roller located substantially at the entrance, a second deflection roller located in the vicinity of the upper end of the enclosure and a third deflection roller located near the lower end of the enclosure and offset from the first roller, so that the moving band within the enclosure moves upward between the first roller and the second roller, following a substantially vertical path, then downwards between the second roller and the third roller, a first set of two opposite ramps located on either side of the strip being arranged on the path of the strip between the first and second rollers, while a second set of opposite ramps, also situated on either side of the strip, is also disposed on the path of the strip between the es first and second rollers, at a level higher than that of the first set of
• the device comprises a first deflection roller situated substantially at the level of the entry of the continuous strip into the enclosure at the lower part thereof, a second roller return located near the upper end of the enclosure and a third return roller located near the lower end of the enclosure and offset from the first roller, so that the moving band in the enclosure moves upwards in an inclined path between the first roller and the second roller, then downwards between the second roller and the third roller, a first set of two opposite ramps located on either side of the strip being arranged on the path of the strip between the first and second rollers, while a second set of opposite ramps, also located on either side of the strip is also arranged on the path t of the strip between the first and second rollers, at a level higher than that of the first set of ramps, the first set of ramps spraying demineralized water on the strip, while the second set of ramps sprays water distilled on the tape.
• a partition is placed in the enclosure between the first and the last roller, so as to prevent particles carried away by said cleaning and / or decontamination liquid from being redeposited on the bandaged.
• each vertical section of the strip is subjected to the action of sprinklers carried by two pairs of ramps opposite one another on either side of the strip.
• means are provided for adjusting the orientation of the ramp jets, while means can also be provided for adjusting the level of the ramps as well as their distance from the strip.
• the ramps can also be adjustable longitudinally (that is to say in the direction of their axis).
• means are also provided for drying the strip before it leaves the enclosure.
• a chamber in which one and / or the other of the faces of the strip are subjected to the action of air jets from the nozzles carried by at least one ramp.
• a thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature of the drying air supplying the drying ramp (s).
• the enclosure At its upper part, the enclosure has a ceiling with multiple perforations giving way to sterile air constituting an atmosphere of conditioned air in the enclosure.
• the enclosure is provided with a collector of the liquid or liquids sprayed on the strip.
• This collector is in the form of a hopper.
• a slit of adjustable width is provided between the lower edge of the enclosure and the upper edge of the hopper, this slit allowing the escape, at a predetermined flow rate, of the air contained in the enclosure, so that a air circulation is established therein, the pressure of this air being, at its entrance (ceiling) into the enclosure, a few centimeters, for example 2 to 4 centimeters, of water column.
• the deflection rollers on which the film strip passes in the enclosure rotate freely and are of the squirrel cage type.
• this strip Downstream of the enclosure, in the direction of movement of the strip of thermoplastic film, this strip is pulled by passing between two rollers, one of which is driven by an electric motor.
• rollers One of these rollers is coated with rubber or plastic.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view, also in side elevation, of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• - Figure 3 is a side view in more detail- the second embodiment of the device according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a. view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention.
• FIG. 6 is, on a larger scale, a detailed view of part of the device shown in FIG. 3, and
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a deflection roller and a spray boom of a cleaning liquid.
• the cleaning or decontamination devices described below advantageously form part of an installation for manufacturing sachets or flexible bags for the slow flow of liquids, in particular sachets containing physiologically acceptable liquids intended to be administered to of patients by the intravenous route.
• Such an installation essentially comprises a station for unwinding a strip of thermoplastic film from a supply roll, a station for printing information on one side of the strip, a station for punching holes in the strip, these holes being intended to receive pipes, and a station for manufacturing pouch bags by welding, for example as described in document FR-A-2528801.
• a cleaning or decontamination device according to the present inven ⁇ tion is mounted just upstream of the bag manufacturing station.
• FIG. 1 In a first embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, of the device according to the invention, it comprises an enclosure 1 comprising a ceiling 2 having a multitude of perforations 3, through which sterile air from a source (not shown) is blown, in the direction of the arrows X, throughout the cross section of the enclosure 1.
• the pressure of this air, in enclosure 1, is a few centimeters of water column, for example 2 to 4 cm. Thanks to this slight overpressure of air in enclosure 1, the penetration into it of non-sterile outside air is prevented.
• the enclosure 1 is open and surmounts a hopper 5 of asymmetrical shape serving as a liquid collector, as will be shown below.
• This hopper 5 is connected by a conduit 6 to a drain, a siphon (not shown) being formed in this conduit 6.
• a thin continuous strip 7 of thermoplastic material for example a strip formed by a layer or several adjoining layers of polyethylene travels, in enclosure 1, a sinuous path between two lower rollers 8, 9 and an upper roller 10, this last upper roller 10 being located directly above the lower roller 8 in the vicinity of the ceiling 2.
• the lower rollers 8, 9 are located in the vicinity of the open lower end 4 of the enclosure 1.
• the rollers 8, 9, 10 whose axes are horizontal are of the "squirrel cage” type (see fig.7). They comprise a series of bars 11 of circular cross section connected at each of their ends to a circular disc 12. At the mid-length of the bars 11, these are also connected to a median circular disc 13 serving to stiffen the rollers 8, 9, 10. The centers of the discs 12 and 13 are located on the geometric axis of the rollers 8, 9, 10.
• These rollers 8, 9, 10 comprise a longitudinal shaft 14 connected to the discs 12, 13, the ends of this shaft 14, which extend outside the rollers 8, 9, 10, being supported, so as to allow the free rotation of these rollers.
• the strip 7 of thermoplastic material which may have a width of 40 to 60 cm or more, passes through the enclosure in the direction of the arrows Y.
• the strip 7 enters the 'enclosure 1 through an inlet 16, provided with a flap 17 of rubber or other deformable material, this flap 17 acting as a shutter limiting the outlet of pressurized air from the enclosure.
• the strip 7 then passes over the lower deflection roller 8, which rotates in the dextrorsum direction. From the lower deflection roller 8, the strip follows a vertical path towards the upper roller 10 which returns it, turning in the sinistrorsal direction, towards the lower roller 9, following an inclined path.
• the strip 7 On the vertical section 18 located between the deflection rollers 8 and 10, the strip 7 is subjected to the action of cleaning and / or decontamination means.
• These cleaning and / or decontamination means consist of a first pair of ramps 19 provided with sprinklers 20. These ramps 19 connected to a source of demineralized water spray, by their sprinklers 20, jets of demineralized water on the opposite faces of the strip 7, while the latter moves upwards of the enclosure 1 along a substantially vertical path. As can be seen in FIG.
• the nozzles 20 of the ramps 18 mounted on either side of the vertical section 18 of the strip 7 are oriented, so as to form with the strip an angle ⁇ which can vary between 30 and 90 °, preferably between 45 and 60 °, the jets of demineralized water delivered by these nozzles being directed generally, in a direction (arrow Z) opposite to the direction of advance of the strip 7 between the rollers of reference 8 and 10 (vertical arrow Y).
• a second pair of ramps 21 provided with jets 22, the latter spraying distilled water on the oppo ⁇ ed sides of the strip 7.
• the orientation of the jets 22 can be the same as that of the nozzles of the first pair of ramps 19.
• the liquids sprayed on the strip 7 obviously flow downwards on the vertical section 18 of the strip 7 and drip towards the bottom 4, carrying with them the particles detached from the strip 7.
• the strip 7 follows an inclined path (section 23) allowing a downward flow of the residual liquids.
• the strip 7 After passing over the deflection roller 9, the strip 7 also passes over a deflection roller 24 also of the squirrel cage type, after which it enters a drying chamber 25 delimited by walls 26, 27, 28, this drying chamber 25 being mcntée in the enclosure 1 just upstream of an outlet 29 thereof.
• a drying chamber 25 In the drying chamber 25 are provided, on either side of the strip 7, ramps 30 provided with nozzles 31 oriented towards the strip 7 in an opposite direction (arrow Z) to that of a vertical section 32 of this strip 7. Air or other sterile or sterilizing gas is blown through the nozzles 31 on the strip 7. The temperature of this air and its flow rate through the nozzles 31 can obviously be adjusted, so that downstream of the ramps 30, the strip 7 is perfectly dry.
• rolls 8, 9, 10, 24 of squirrel cage type makes it possible to avoid the accumulation on these rolls of particles or micro-organisms detached from the strip.
• These rollers are themselves dynamically washed by the liquids sprayed on the strip 7.
• the strip 7 dried by the air or gas jets delivered by the nozzles 31 passes over a deflection roller 33 (which may be a roller with a full cylindrical surface), before leaving the enclosure 1 via the outlet 29 thereof.
• a deflection roller 33 which may be a roller with a full cylindrical surface
• rollers 34, 35 mounted in the vicinity of the outlet 29 of the enclosure 1, outside of the latter, serve to drive the strip 7.
• the roller 34 the cylindrical surface of which is made of rubber or similar material is driven by a motor (not shown) and the strip 7 is driven by pinching between this driving roller 34 and the roller 35.
• the strip 7 Downstream of the rollers 34 and 35, the strip 7 passes over a roller 36 carried by the parallel arms 37 of a lever that can pivot about an axis 38.
• This lever serves to keep the strip 7 under tension by resuming or compensating for the loss of tension caused by periodic stops in the advancement movement of this strip 7 in particular at the welding station (not shown) where the manufacturing takes place by welding of sachets and their filling using a perfu ⁇ sion liquid.
• a gap 39 Between the open lower end 4 of the enclosure 1 and the collecting hopper 5 is formed a gap 39 forming a slot of adjustable width (as will be seen below).
• This slot 39 allows the escape of the sterile air under pressure admitted into the enclosure 1 through the perforations 3 formed in its ceiling 2.
• the second embodiment of the device according to the invention is similar to that described above with reference to Figure 1, except that the strip 7 is caused to pass, in the enclosure 1, on a larger number of deflection rollers of the squirrel cage type, so as to follow a more winding path and that additional cleaning and / or decontamination means are provided.
• the device according to FIG. 2 comprises two pairs of ramps 19 and 42 each provided with sprinklers 20 and 43, the ramps of each of these two pairs of ramps 19, 42 being arranged on either side of the strip 7 along the vertical section 18 thereof.
• Each of these ramps 19 and 42 sprays with its nozzles (20, 43) demineralized water on the strip 7.
• this strip is first subjected to the action of jets of demineralized water delivered by jets 45 of a pair of ramps 46, then to the action of jets of distilled water coming from the nozzles 22 of the pair of ramps 21.
• the strip receives jets of demineralized water from the ramps 19 and 42, while, on its second vertical path or section 44, demineralized water is first sprayed by the ramps 46, then distilled water by the ramps 21.
• the third embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, of the device according to the invention differs from that shown in FIG. 1 by the fact that the section 18 of the strip 7 located between the lower roller 8 and the upper roller 10 is inclined with respect to the vertical in the direction of rotation W of the lower roller 8.
• the strip From the lower deflection roller 8, the strip follows an inclined path towards the upper roller 10 which returns it, turning in the sinistrorsum direction, towards the lower roller 9, following an inclined path.
• the strip 7 On the inclined section 18 located between the deflection rollers 8 and 10, the strip 7 is subjected to the action of the cleaning and / or decontamination means.
• These cleaning and / or decontamination means consist of a first pair of ramps 19, 78.
• These ramps 19, 78 connected to a source of demineralized water, spray jets of demineralized water on the opposite faces 79, 80 of the strip 7, while the latter is moving upwards of the enclosure 1.
• Above the first pair of ramps 19, 78 is mounted a second pair of ramps 21, 81, the latter spraying distilled water on the opposite faces 79, 80 of the strip 7.
• the ramps 78, 81 are arranged so as to allow the spraying of said liquid on the face 79 of the inclined section 18, this face 79 being opposite to the face 80 of the strip in contact with the lower deflection roller 8.
• the inclination of the said section 18 relative to the vertical is advantageously between 5 and 30 °. This inclination allows the liquids sprayed on the face 79 of the inclined section 18 to run off on this face while carrying the contaminating particles towards the lower roller 8.
• the liquid laden with contaminating particles separates from the strip 7 and falls by gravity into the hopper 5. Thanks to this inclination, the liquid sprayed on the face 79 remains in contact with the latter.
• the overpressure of sterile air in the enclosure makes it possible to apply an additional contact force of the liquid on this face.
• the liquid present on this face is therefore less subject to possible splashes or entrainment of liquids due to the current of sterile air or to the formation of large drops on the strip. This makes it possible to prevent the liquid loaded with contaminating particles from being redeposited on the face 79 of a portion of the strip already cleaned.
• the strip 7 After passing over the deflection roller 9, the strip 7 also passes over the deflection roller 24 also of the "squirrel cage” type, after which it enters the drying chamber 25 delimited by the walls 26, 27, 28 , this drying chamber 25 being mounted in the enclosure 1 just upstream of the outlet 29 thereof.
• the strip is subjected to a pre-drying thanks to two systems 82, 83 provided with two squeegees 84, 85; 86.87.
• the squeegee 84 of the system 82 scrapes the portion of the strip included between the squeegees 86, 87 of the other system 83.
• the fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention differs from the third only by the fact that the device comprises two return rollers 8, 9 distant from each other at the part lower of enclosure 1 and two deflection rollers 10, 41 also spaced from each other at the upper part of the enclosure 1, so that, passing over these various deflection rollers, the film strip has three successive sections, namely a first inclined section 18 which is subjected to the spraying of one or more cleaning and / or decontamination liquids, a second substantially horizontal section 88 and a third section 89, preferably inclined.
• FIGS. 6 and 7 of the appended drawings show details of the embodiment of the device according to the invention, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.
• the enclosure 1 is made up of a cabinet which can have, on two opposite faces, parallel to the direction of advance of the strip 7 of thermoplastic film, glass doors 47 making it possible to check the operation of the cleaning device and access the interior of this cabinet, if necessary.
• Fixed bars 48, 49, 50, 51 which can be tubular and are mounted parallel to each other, inside the enclosure 1, are suspended from the upstream wall 52 and the downstream wall 53 thereof.
• Each of these bars 48 to 51, extending at the front of the enclosure 1, corresponds to a bar at the rear of this enclosure.
• four pairs of fixed bars 48 to 51 are thus provided, to which the equipment contained in the cabinet is suspended.
• the upper deflection rollers 10 and 41 including the shafts 14 can rotate freely in holes made in lugs 54 fixed to jumpers 55 attached to the bars 48, by means of bolts 56. Thanks to this arrangement, the positions of the deflection rollers 10 and 41 can possibly be modified, by spreading more or less from each other, by simply pulverizing the jumpers 55 on the bars 48.
• each of these ramps has a cylindrical part 57 of larger diameter, on which a clamping collar 58 is tightened, formed of two semi-circular branches 58 'and 58 "hinged to each other at 59 at one of their ends and provided with a butterfly nut 60 at their other end.
• the branch 58' of the collars clamping 58 is integral with a first part 61 of polygonal shape which is fixed by bolts 62 to a second polygo ⁇ nal part 63.
• the parts 61 and 63 each have along their edges a semi-circular notch which encloses the ramp
• Each plate formed by the parts 61 and 63 is suspended from a lug 64 removably attached to a jumper 65 suspended from one of the bars 49.
• Pipe 68 connected to a source of demineralized water (not shown) feeds the pairs of ramps 19, 42 and 46, while another pipe 68 connected to a source of distilled water (not shown) feeds the ramps 21.
• the shaft of the lower deflection rollers 8, 40, 9 and 27 can rotate freely in a hole made in tabs 70, 71 fixed to the chassis of the cabinet 1.
• the fixed bars 50 support, in the same way as the fixed bars 49, the pairs of ramps 19 and 46.
• a pipe 72 connected to a source of sterile drying air under pressure (not shown), is clamped by a removable clamping collar 73 on a first tube 74 connected to another tube supplying at each of its ends the drying ramps 30.
• the orientation of the jets of the ramps 30, as well as the longitudinal position of the latter, can be modified by means (clamp 58, parts 61, 63, legs 64 and jumper 65) identical to those used for the various booms 19, 21, 42 and 46 for spraying liquids.
• tabs 75 fixed at one end to the lower part of the cabinet 1 have a buttonhole 76 providing passage to a bolt fixed to the upper part of the collecting hopper 5. On this bolt is screwed a nut 77.
• This system makes it possible to adjust the level of the upper edge of the hopper 5 and, consequently, the width of the slot 39, through which sterile air under pressure sent into the enclosure 1 can escape through the perforations 3 from the ceiling 2 thereof. Washing and decontamination tests of films by a device according to FIG. 4 according to the present invention have shown the following observations for a strip consisting of a layer of high density polyethylene and a layer of low density polyethylene:
• the device according to the invention it has been possible to reduce the number of submicron particles (from 2 to 5 microns) to less than 250 particles, or even to less than 60 particles, per ml of infusion liquid. .
• This low concentration of particles makes it possible to meet the concentration thresholds accepted by various health organizations, these thresholds generally being between 500 to 1000 submicron particles of 2 microns per ml of perfusion liquid.
• the pre-drying means 82, 83 make it possible to reduce by three the air consumption necessary for drying in the chamber 25 compared to the consumption necessary in a device in which these means are not mounted.

Landscapes

• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=3844049

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (24)

Family Cites Families (38)

• 1987
  • 1987-06-23 EP EP87904225A patent/EP0270653B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1987-06-23 JP JP62503889A patent/JPH01500744A/ja active Pending
  • 1987-06-23 AU AU75884/87A patent/AU592461B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1987-06-23 US US07/173,529 patent/US4924891A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1987-06-23 WO PCT/BE1987/000009 patent/WO1988000158A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1987-06-26 CA CA000540709A patent/CA1291005C/en not_active Expired

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events